Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 94 Part 3.djvu/809

Public Law 96-594 96th Congress An Act To revise and improve the laws relating to the documentation of vessels, and for other purposes.

Dec. 24, 1980 [H.R. 1196]

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Vessel United States of America in Congress assembled, SEC. 101. SHORT TITLE.

TITLE I

This title may be cited as the "Vessel Documentation Act". SEC. 102. DEFINITIONS.

As used in this title— (1) "documented vessel" means a vessel for which a certificate of documentation has been issued under this title; (2) "fisheries" includes the planting, cultivation, catching, taking, or harvesting of fish, shellfish, marine animals, pearls, shells, or marine vegetation at any place within the fishery conservation zone established by section 101 of the Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976 (16 U.S.C. 1811); and (8) "Secretary" means the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating. SEC, 103. PORTS OF DOCUMENTATION.

The Secretary shall designate ports of documentation in the United States where vessels may be documented and instruments affecting title to, or interest in, documented vessels may be recorded. The Secretary shall specify the geographic area to be served by each designated port, and he may discontinue, relocate, or designate additional ports of documentation. SEC. 104. VESSELS ELIGIBLE FOR DOCUMENTATION.

Any vessel of at least five net tons that is not registered under the laws of a foreign country is eligible for documentation if it is owned by(1) an individual who is a citizen of the United States; (2) a partnership or association whose members are all citizens of the United States; (3) a corporation created under the laws of the United States, or any State, territory, or possession thereof, or of the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; whose president or other chief executive officer and chairman of its board of directors are citizens of the United States and no more of its directors are noncitizens than a minority of the number necessary to constitute a quorum; (4) the United States Government; or (5) the government of any State, territory, or possession of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.